Christmas event

The Kunkletown Thrift Store at the Eldred Community Center will hold a Christmas event in the gym starting today and going on until Friday. On Thursday the store will be open until 7 p.m.

Annual flea market

Our Lady Queen of Peace Church, Brodheadsville, has announced it annual flea market event, craft show and bake sale for Friday through Sunday. Hours are 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Friday; 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday; and 12:30-4 p.m. Sunday.

Youth Group teens have an opportunity to help the parish during the event. Youths can volunteer from 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Friday; 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Saturday; and noon to 3:30 p.m. Sunday.

Volunteers are asked to contact youthminister@qopchurch.org.

Grief workshop

The next meeting of the Brodheadsville Area Support Group is set for 1-2:30 p.m. Thursday at the Western Pocono Community Library, Brodheadsville. The group will meet again July 9.

For more information, call the St. Luke’s Hospice Bereavement Program at 484-526-2499.

No Adoration

There will be no Eucharistic Adoration on Friday at Our Lady Queen of Peace Church, Brodheadsville.

Farmers market

The Saylors Inn will be the site of a farmers market from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday in Saylorsburg.

St. John’s service

This week’s Sunday service at St. John’s Lutheran Church, Effort, will be a Service of the Word. The service begins at 9:30 a.m.

Mission trip

The Youth Mission Team from Effort UMC will be leaving town Sunday to serve in Wallingford, Connecticut.

Special notes and cards will be taken along to the school where the group will be staying.

Some’r Choir

Our Lady Queen of Peace Church, Brodheadsville, invites folks to join the church’s Some’r Choir. It entails “no rehearsals, no robes, no commitment,” just an invitation to ”come when you can.”

This choir will begin Sunday and continue through Sunday, Sept. 6, for the 11 a.m. Mass.

Singers from grade 9 through senior citizens are welcome.

WPCL deadline

The Western Pocono Community Library, Brodheadsville, is accepting registration for its summer reading program through Tuesday.

The program theme is Dino-Mite 2026 Reading Adventure.

For details, check the library’s website, visit the library, inquire by email or call 570-992-7934.

Also, the Adult Art Studio will be held at 10:30 a.m. every Friday in July except for July 3.

Lunch, dinner

The Monroe Campus of St. Luke’s Hospital offers lunch, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., and dinner from 4-6 p.m., weekdays only, at the Monroe Campus, for those 65 and older. The dinner’s cost includes an entree, salad, side, veggie, dessert and drink. For more details, call 484-526-2499.

Day camps

Monroe County Conservation District’s Kettle Creek Environmental Education Center offers summer day camps.

Campers should choose one week. The camps are:

• Get in Touch with Nature for ages 7-10 — July 6-10 or Aug. 3-7.

• Adventure Camp for ages 11-13 — July 6-10, Aug. 3-7 or Aug. 17-21.

Camps are Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., with early care and late pickup available for an additional fee.

Applications can be found at www.mcconservation.org/educational-services. Register online, call 570-629-3061 or email dflint@monroecountypa.gov for an application or to pay by credit card over the phone.

For more information, call 570-629-3061 from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, visit

www.mcconservation.org or email dlederer@monroecountypa.gov.

Library event

The Western Pocono Community Library, Brodheadsville, will host “Clyde Peeling’s Reptileland” at 6 p.m. July 2.

Food items will be for sale by Friends of WPCL.

July 4 celebrations

The West End Fairground, Gilbert, will hold Celebration Fest from July 2-4, with activities and performances. Times are 5-10 p.m. July 2 and July 3, and 2-10 p.m. July 4.

It features food, vendors, music, fireworks, etc.

Admission is a fee per vehicle.

The Monroe County Independence Day Parade will take place at 10 a.m. July 4 on Main Street in Stroudsburg.

VBS slated

• Effort UMC is holding its Vacation Bible School the week of July 6-10. The theme “Rain Forest Falls.”

The hours are 9 a.m. to noon.

• St. Matthew’s ECC, Kunkletown, is holding its VBS from July 13-17. It is for children 3-11. Older youngsters can serve as youth helpers. The theme is “Rocky Railway.” The hours are 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

• Our Lady Queen of Peace Church, Brodheadsville, is holding its VBS from July 27-31. It will include “music-rooted Bible adventures and wild games,” as well as “tree-top treats, sticky Scripture and an “Imagination Station.”

The hours are 9 a.m. to noon.

Adult volunteers are still needed. Contact the church for more information.

Flower show/sale

“Garden Symphony” is the theme for the Pocono Garden Club’s annual Flower Show and Plant Sale to be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. July 11 at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Tannersville.

Pam Hubbard will be featured speaker. The subject, “The Contemporary Cottage Garden: Climate-Friendly, Mindful Methods for Growing Flowers and Food,” is the title of her latest book.

Many plants will be for sale. There is an admission cost.

The event will include a silent auction, tricky tray, garden marketplace with new or gently used garden-related items, snacks and bake sale, and door prizes.

The club donates to many local charitable organizations.

Special Sunday

Breakfast, Bluegrass Music & Worship will be the order of the day at Effort UMC on July 12, providing worship music with breakfast at 9:45 a.m.

Worship services will be at 8:30 and 11 a.m.

BugFest 2026

The annual BugFest at Kettle Creek Environmental Center will be held on July 18. The family-friendly event is co-hosted by Kettle Creek and Monroe County 4H Insects Are Us.

A passport to BugFest will guide folks to stations such as the insect zoo, build-a-bug craft, free face painting, make your own antennas, outdoor insect safari, live butterfly tent and many others.

At the end of the session, participants can turn in their stamped passports to receive a prize.

Volunteers from the Monroe County Bee Keepers Association, Master Gardeners, Penn State Extension and others will be on hand at the interactive stations.

Participants at the afternoon session can enjoy the release of the monarch and painted lady butterflies at the end of the day.

There is a cost for children ages 3-12 years. Anyone under 3 years or above 12 years of age, including parents, may attend for free. Preregister for either the morning session from 9:30 a.m. to noon or the afternoon session from 12:30-3 p.m. at mcconservation.org.

Preregistration is required, and space is limited.

For more information, call Kettle Creek at 570-629-3061 from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.